I picked up the book for 50 Fathoms at Gencon and I am preparing to run the plot point for my kids. I have read most of the Captain's Log and I couldn't be more excited to run this. Seems that the plot point is perfect for the busy GM. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble we get into.

Probably the best bit of advice:
At the end of each session, always ask the group where they plan to sail to next. That way, you only have to read up on that particular port and related Savage Tales. Sometimes you might have to sketch out a map.

If you are feeling brave, read up on the whole island and see how you can sprinkle leads for each adventure.

I'd also read the overarching Plot Points and see if there are NPCs you can create/introduce early and have the PCs build a relationship with.

Otherwise, yep, 50F is tailor made for the GM with a busy schedule and great imagination.

But, seriously, folks: if your group is anything like mine, you'll probably have one hot-shot ship pilot with a high Boating Skill and all the Boating Edges. I don't think the Cabin Fever rules came up even once. They never went more than 3-4 days without making port somewhere, much less than the 30 days it takes to trigger Cabin Fever.

I wouldn't worry about it._________________"Your GM is metagaming ... and wrong!"

But, seriously, folks: if your group is anything like mine, you'll probably have one hot-shot ship pilot with a high Boating Skill and all the Boating Edges. I don't think the Cabin Fever rules came up even once. They never went more than 3-4 days without making port somewhere, much less than the 30 days it takes to trigger Cabin Fever.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Making port only counts if they carouse - if they just make port, then sail on without carousing the days towards Cabin Fever keep on counting up ..._________________Currently Playing:

And there are benefits to carousing that go beyond relieving cabin fever. If you spend a week carousing, you get a +1 to Streetwise checks while you're in that port (to a maximum of +2). When it comes time to sell unusual cargo, or ask around for information, that bonus could come in handy._________________'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
'Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here.'
The Order of the Dice... OF DOOM!

Making port only counts if they carouse - if they just make port, then sail on without carousing the days towards Cabin Fever keep on counting up ...

I suppose you could read it that way; I think I might have interpreted that passage differently. In any case, I think it's safe enough to ignore that rule.

Another good question: how old are the kids we're talking about? I think 10+ should be savvy enough to understand what "carousing" is meant to emulate._________________"Your GM is metagaming ... and wrong!"

... Kids still buy baseball cards these days? My experiences with kids have been Pokemon and MtG cards..._________________Adam Loyd
Freelancer and Proofreader (check me out in the Noir books!)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand this rant is over.

Thanks for the advice. My kids are 10, 12, & 14 so we will certainly take carousing a different direction. I like the coffee house idea and I think that they would see going to a tavern to get food and drinks more like getting a burger and come as opposed to getting sloshed on ale and getting some "action".

If you make them work for the EIBC, then have them go to a tea house instead.

Or send them to a Coffee Cafe and tell them it's like a Starbucks, though the mental image I have of a 50F Starbucks is amusing.

Make the warf district sound like one of those big truck stops. Sailors buy bric-brac, eat pancakes and play chess all day.

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Sorry, had to mention that half of this post can be summed up to scenes from Escape from Monkey Island for PC.

Starbuccaneers:

Pirates Playing (Insult) Chess:

My group is trying out 50 Fathoms for the first time (we're starting in about 2 months when we finish Rippers), but I think I may just offer my group a homebrew Monkey Island variant to follow the 50 Fathoms campaign I've already put together (they've already created 50 Fathoms characters, I've already written up much of the campaign, so I don't think anyone wants to ditch our 50 Fathoms game for something different).